sport airplane from private glider

I have to agree the AOPA answer doesn't make sense.

They said...

"Outside of SP is Recreational, Private, Commercial and ATP. All
powered ratings, Glider is separate. "

While there is not a Recreational and I believe no ATP Glider
certificate. There certainly are SP Private and Commercial Glider
certificates. Maybe what they meant was that certificates are separate
from aircraft Categories. Even then it is confusing to me what they
meant.

They also Said...

"A glider certificated pilot is not higher than SP. "

This is clearing wrong because a Private Glider rating is clearly
higher than a SP Glider Rating. True they did not say what kind of
glider certificated pilot.

"Higher certification means going from SP to Rec, Pvt., etc. FAR 61.31 and Subpart J
defines the differences."

This is correct, Here they say the a Private certificate is a higher
Rating than a SP certifcate.

"Taking written knowledge test to stay within powered aircraft does not required additional written test within SP. But moving outside SP to Rec or Pvt does."

This is correct but doesn't apply to the question you asked. Yes you
need a knowledge test any time you upgrade to a higher rating. (That
is what AOPA said ) According to my Test Proctor there is never a
knowledge test for a lateral or down ward move (FI is the exception).
If you have private airplane rating there is no knowledge test to move
to a Glider or Helicopter (FAR 61.63b). There is also no written if
you move downward to SP or Recreational Certificate. Knowledge tests
are only required for an upgrade in rating, not the addition of a
category.

*******************
The simple answer is that; I think it is obvious that SP Glider pilot
does not need a written or Practical exam to add SP Airplane.

A Private Glider Pilot can not add SP Glider Privledges to his
certificate because he already has these privileges as a Private
Glider Pilot. (A higher rating)

It doesn't make sense that a SP Glider pilot can transition to a SP
Airplane without the written or practical test and not allow it for a
Private Glider Pilots.

CFIIG/ASEL
Brian

On Nov 27, 11:33 am, Brian wrote:
I have to agree the AOPA answer doesn't make sense.
It doesn't make sense that a SP Glider pilot can transition to a SP
Airplane without the written or practical test and not allow it for a
Private Glider Pilots.

CFIIG/ASEL
Brian

I have to agree that the AOPA answer is confusing and I'm not ready to
take a position of this yet.

I am certainly confused and surprised that an SP glider pilot can get
SP airplane without a knowledge or flight test since, as a pvt glider
pilot, I had to take both the knowledge and flight test to get private
ASEL on my certificate. Similary as a commercial glider pilot I had to
take the knowledge test and flight tests to get my commercial ASEL
rating. When I had a glider instructor rating I had to take a flight
test to add airplane instructor.

Andy

It is a departure from past certification of pilots but there are two
reasons I believe the FAA has allowed this.

#1) Upgrading "Heavy" ultralights. All the ultralight guys were flying
two seaters and calling themselves instructors to get through a
loophole in Part 103. The FAA doesn't want to allow this anymore and
so they have to obtain a SP license and N-number their ultralights
unless it fits into the true Part 103.

#2) Provide access to flying for a new group of people. This was done
by creating the Sport License, which allows you to jump around and try
different aircraft without dropping as much money along the way
(including $300+ for examiner). Aircraft also fall under this, making
it easier to have a Special Light Sport Aircraft licensed, versus a
Standard Certification. You can see this by the 60+ SLSAs flying in
the last three years compared to probably a tenth of that in GA.

The standards for someone to obtain a new SP rating are extremely low
also. For a SP glider it's 10 hours and 20 hours for airplane. I hope
no one does an initial rating in that amount of time, but basically
the FAA wants to make it as simple as possible and get more interest
going in flying. That's good for us!